Pomegranate for heart health and the science behind it

Together with my academic associates, recently I have systematically reviewed the scientific research linking pomegranate intake with cardiovascular benefits in consumers and patients [Ref. 1]. Here I will briefly present some highlights and major findings from our analysis of the existing scientific literature on this topic.

Cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of death in humans [Ref. 2]. Due to this, the establishment of dietary modifications (for example, involving the use of pomegranates or pomegranate-derived products) that can combat cardiovascular diseases will have a major beneficial effect on human health, longevity, and the society as a whole.

Pre-clinical research on vasculoprotective effects of pomegranate

Pomegranate is a fruit with a long history of use as a food and medicine from ancient times, in particular in Central Asia, India, the Mediterranean area, and in the Middle East. It has been highly valued by different societies such as the Romans and in Ancient Egypt, and is highlighted to have symbolic importance in different religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Judaism. Thus, for example in Ancient Egypt pomegranate was painted on walls and tombs to symbolize life after death, and it was praised by the Old Testament of the Bible as “a sacred fruit conferring powers of fertility, abundance, and good luck”.

Preclinical research done so far points out a range of protective effects of pomegranate on the cardiovascular system, such as reduction of oxidative stress and platelet aggregation, positive influences on endothelial cell functions (mediated by increasing NO levels and lowering of blood glucose levels), anti-inflammatory effect, diminishing lipid uptake by macrophages, and impact on blood pressure regulation. Remarkably, commercial pomegranate juice was found to have three times higher antioxidant activity than other well-known beverages with antioxidative properties, such as red wine and green tea [Ref. 3]. Pomegranate fruits and seeds, as well as other parts of the plant (for example flowers, leaves, and fruit peels), have been studied in diverse pre-clinical research works, and are demonstrated to be rich in numerous bioactive compounds that are responsible for the detected biological activities. Some of the most important phytochemicals scientifically linked to the potential health benefits of pomegranate consumption are, among others, ellagic acid, hydrolyzable tannins (gallotannins and ellagitannins), as well as diverse flavonoids, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins.

Importantly, next to the listed vasculoprotective effects, pomegranate and its bioactive constituents are also displaying protective effects against toxicity induced by chemicals or drugs. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiproliferative, and anticancer effects are also reported. In respect to the investigated anticancer activity, in particular many studies addressed the potential protective action of pomegranate in the context of prostate cancer.

Human studies on the vasculoprotective effects of pomegranate

A number of human studies already examined the potential of pomegranate to contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In these studies, pomegranate overall revealed to have a good safety profile, although when used for a longer period or in high amounts, certain mild side effects (such as diarrhea) might also occur.

Hypertension is a significant factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases. In patients with hypertension, daily consumption of pomegranate juice for 2 weeks reduced systolic blood pressure [Ref. 4]. The same group of researchers also reported that a longer-duration (for 3 years) intake of pomegranate juice also significantly reduced blood pressure, as well as LDL oxidation, and common carotid intima-media thickness, a measure used to quantify the extent of carotid atherosclerotic vascular disease [Ref. 5]. Three other human studies also demonstrated reduction of blood pressure upon consumption of pomegranate juice [Ref. 6; Ref. 7; Ref. 8]. In the same line, a recent meta-analysis of clinical trials also concluded that intake of pomegranate juice decreases blood pressure [Ref. 9]. On the other side, some of the human studies also examined diverse blood parameters (for example, the serum concentration of C-reactive protein, CRP) related to inflammation, which is another major contributor to atherosclerosis, and did not see significant effect of pomegranate supplementation [Ref. 7; Ref. 9]. Therefore, considering that none of the human studies examined direct disease outcomes (for example, atherosclerosis-related death rates), despite the strong evidence for anti-hypertensive effects, overall more human studies are needed before pomegranate can be unambiguously recommended as a dietary supplement to combat atherosclerosis.

Pomegranate juice was also studied in human trials in prostate cancer patients, and its consumption resulted in significant improvement in the levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an important marker related to the disease progression [Ref. 10]. However, limitation of this study is also that it just examined a disease-related marker (PSA) and not direct disease outcomes, therefore, more human studies are also needed in respect of this potential therapeutic application of pomegranate.

Aside of pomegranate juice, another pomegranate-derived product that has been studied in humans in the context of cardiovascular diseases is the pomegranate peel hydroalcoholic extract, which was reported to reduce cardiovascular risk factors in obese women with dyslipidemia, in a recent double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study [Ref. 11].

Conclusion and outlook

Pomegranate, a fruit with an ancient history of use as a food and medicine, is scientifically proven to be a rich source of diverse natural bioactive compounds.

Numerous research studies suggest pomegranate and its constituents to exhibit cardio-protective effects, such as diminishing oxidative stress, beneficially influencing the functions of macrophages, endothelial cells, and platelets, counteracting lipid oxidation, inducing vasodilatory effects, reducing blood glucose levels, as well as decreasing blood pressure. Human clinical studies support some of the cardiovascular benefits of pomegranate juice intake, with especially strong evidence of blood pressure-reducing effects. Likewise, human studies also indicate beneficial effects of pomegranate juice in prostate cancer. Despite of the overall promising data from the clinical trials performed up to now in the context of both cardiovascular diseases and prostate cancer, more human studies are needed to make unambiguous conclusions for the efficacy of pomegranate supplementation.

The overall results of the numerous scientific studies performed up to now in vitro, in animal models, and in humans, suggest that the dietary use of pomegranate might be associated with benefits for the prevention and therapy of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, peripheral artery disease, and coronary artery disease. Nevertheless, before further clinical trials are performed to more firmly demonstrate efficacy in patients, pomegranate can just be recommended as a complementary dietary supplement and not as a primary therapeutic tool.

I’m a medical doctor and past 67 years now. In my childhood in India, the pomegranate was a luxury being imported from Afghanistan. The famous dictum based on the grains in the fruit was ,”ek anaar sau beemar” – meaning thereby one pomegranate can be used for a hundred sick persons for their health and well being.
I understand that was based on experience of ancient seers but now it’s coming true and usefulness of pomegranate is being implemented vehemently.
Good to know it.
Is the juice which is rich in sugars, safe for diabetics? Or better to chrw the grains with seeds?

I am really interested to do postdoctoral research on natural products. I have completed phd research on natural product treatment against various health disease elicited by heavy metals. I have already mailed regarding my postdoc opportunity to admin. I have good publication in sci journal. Pls considered my application.